My Tech Journey Part 1: Choosing to Begin

 My Tech Journey, Part 1: Choosing to Begin




I’ve carried this dream for years — the dream of working in tech, of proving to myself that it’s never too late to reboot. For too long, it sat quietly in the background, waiting for the “perfect moment.” But the truth is, there is no perfect moment. There is only today. I am 63 years young.

I actually started my journey into tech when I was 18 years old, as a Telecommunications Technician in the Army at Ft Bragg. I witnessed the "birth" of the internet in 1980 before it went public. I never imagined, in my wildest dreams, how much it would evolve into what it is today.

I remained fascinated by technology when I became a nurse, and things became even more streamlined with electronic medical records and charting. The computerized medication carts were a blessing. They drastically reduced medication errors and made it easier to identify patients with similar names.

Since I retired, I have found myself seeking opportunities to maintain and expand my knowledge of tech as it evolves and to incorporate it into my daily life. While most of my senior friends shunned AI and feared it, I embrace it and all it has to offer.

For 2 years, I worked in the AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), where I facilitated onboarding seniors over 55 to their workforce training program. The job included setting up password protocols and ensuring email compliance. I also used AI to create impressive resumes for participants. They were required to conduct weekly job searches; most had limited knowledge of or access to computers. This was sometimes challenging for me because I often did all the work for them when they became frustrated.

In August of 2025, I signed up for the NPower.org program in Raleigh, NC, where we get to learn IT and cybersecurity skills and earn certifications for entry-level, well-paid employment in the tech field. I passed my first certification exam, CompTIA Tech+, which is foundational to learning computer hardware and how it works, and my goal is to earn A+ Core 1 and 2. These certs are highly valued in tech.

This week, I faced another setback. I didn’t pass the CompTIA A+ Core 1 exam. Not the first time, not the second. And yes, it stung. But failure isn’t a stop sign. It’s a checkpoint. Each attempt teaches me something new — about the material, about the process, and about myself. It's not that I don't understand the material; I just don't test well. Test anxiety is a real thing, y'all!

Instead of forcing myself through Core 1 again right now, I’m shifting to Core 2. That’s not quitting; it’s adapting. Core 2 leans into operating systems, security, and troubleshooting — areas where my instincts and experience are stronger. Passing it will build momentum, and when I return to Core 1, I’ll be ready with fresh energy.

(I've already taken the Google IT Support courses and received a certificate. My plan is to find an entry-level helpdesk position to build on the skills I learned while I work on the cybersecurity certifications.)

This blog, Rebooting at Midlife, is where I’ll document the journey. Not just the exams, but the lessons, the pivots, the reflections, and the breakthroughs. It’s where I’ll show that reinvention isn’t a straight line. It’s a series of choices, and today I’m making one that moves me forward.

I’m not getting any younger, but I am getting wiser, stronger, and more intentional. Too much time has passed already. Today, I begin again.

🌿 Closing Affirmation

I am not defined by setbacks. I am defined by the courage to begin again.



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